Ford Launches European Electric Vehicle Program

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Ford has initiated its electric vehicles plan for Europe, with the debut of its Transit Connect Electric at the 2010 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany.

Ford plans to introduce, for European customers, five full electric or hybrid vehicles across its light commercial vehicle, C and CD and ranges, by 2013.

The Transit Connect Electric is the first of these five vehicles to be introduced in Europe. A zero-emission, pure electric-powered version of the award-winning Transit Connect light commercial vehicle, it will go on sale in North America later this year and is due to become available in Europe during 2011.

The Electric derivative is based on a long wheelbase version of the successful Transit Connect, which was launched in 2003 in Europe and was introduced to the United States in 2010.

Transit Connect Electric builds on Ford's relationship with its electric vehicles partner, Azure Dynamics, as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.

Michigan-based Azure began work on its collaborative agreement to deliver the pure battery-electric powertrain for the Transit Connect in the United States and Canada in October 2009.